Automobile-running-board attachment



G. L. FLANDERS.

AUTOMOBILE RUNNING BOARD ATTACHMENT.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 14. ms.

11. 33O,69%6 Patented Feb. 10, 1920.

@mvewtoz ururnn srarrns PATENT orrion GEORGE L. FLANDERS, OF WARNER, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

' Specification of Letters Patent.

AUTOMOBILE R'UN N ING-BOARD ATTACHMENT.

Patented Feb. 10, 1920,

Application filed November-'14.. 1918; Serial m. 2s2.5sc.'

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Grouc L. FLANDERS, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Warner, in the county of Merrimack and State of New Hampshire, have- -1nvented new and useful Improvements in Automobile-Running,-Board Attachments, of which the following is a specificatlon.

The object of the invention is toprovide an attachment for the running board of auto vehicles whereby the same may be converted into a package carrier when so desired. The invention comprises a supplemental board hingedly attached to the running board at the outer edge of the latter and designed to float. down against the same when not in use,ithereby forming a false running board. The manner of hingedly mounting the board, however, is such that theboard may be raised to a perpendicular position with reference to the running board and such changes or alterations as the actual rc- I duction to practice may suggest provided the changes and alterations are compatible in spirit with the subjoined claim.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of an automobile running board showing the invention attached thereto and in the open position where it acts as a package carrier.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view similar to Fig. 1, showing the attachment in closed position. 1

Fig. 3 is a. section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

As shown, the invention is applied to the usual foot board or running board 1 to which are connected the mud guards '2 and side guard 3. The attachment comprises the board 4 substantially equal. in length to the length of the running board 1 but narrower than the latter by an amount equal to its own thickness. The board 4 is hingedly at tached to the running board 1 adjacent the outer edge of the latter and for this purpose I there are provided the hinges 5, the latter beinginset in'the under or inner face of the board 1 and one leaf of each hinge being attached to the running board while the other leaf is attached to the board 4. Springs 7 are included in the construction .of the hinges 5 and are so disposed that they normally keep the two leaves of each hinge lying one against the other.

- This construction provides for the board l lying down snugly against the running board when not in use, but when it is de- "sired to use the latter, the board 4 may be turned upwardly when its under edge 6 will its upper or outer face will lie flush with the edge of the running board. The manner of attaching the hinges prevents, when the edge 6 abuts the top face of the running board, the board 4 from falling outwardly from its perpendicular position with reference to the running board 1. Thus bundles. and packages may be placed on the running board between the board 4' and the side guard 3, thus providing a durable receptacle or carrier for such packages.

From the foregoing description and acabut the top face of the running board and companying drawings, it is believed that a I clear enough understanding of the invention is to be had to render further description unnecessary.

The invention having been described, what is claimed as new and useful is:

The combination with the running board of an automobile, of a supplemental board having the same length as the running board but a Width less than the running board by an amount equal to its own thickness, hinges inset in the inner or under face of thesupplemental board and having one leaf at tached to said supplemental board and the other leaf attached to the running board, and springs carried by the hinges and tending normally to bring the leaves thereof one against the other, whereby the said supplemental board is held yieldingly against the running board or may be extended to have its hinged, edge abut the upper face of the running board so that when bundles are placed on the running board behind the said supplemental board the same may be retamed in perpendicular position relative to the running board.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

GEQRGE L. FLANDERS. 

